Cooking With The Golden Root: Turmeric

How often do you cook with the spice turmeric? Here at The Source Bulk Foods, we cannot get enough of this gorgeous golden spice. We add it to oats, curries, stir-fry recipes, bread, frittatas and even to our drinking water! Not to mention “turmeric lattes” … aren’t they having a moment?

Did you know that between November 2015 and January 2016, there was a 56 per cent increase in Google searches for the spice turmeric? We’re guessing that’s when turmeric lattes first appeared on the scene, offering those caffeine-sensitive folks among us a lovely morning buzz. Who can resist cold-pressed turmeric juice being added to warm almond or coconut milk? We sure can’t!

We’ve been fans of turmeric for years – long before it first debuted on social media. You simply just have to look at the colour to see the potency of turmeric for your health. Turmeric contains the antioxidant curcumin, which gives turmeric its bright yellow colour.

Turmeric is the rhizome of a plant that belongs to the ginger family and has been used in Asian cooking and medicine for centuries. It is a popular ingredient in curries and brings a mustardy earthiness to recipes that usually suit savoury meals, but it can be applied to sweeter dishes like biscuits, raw desserts, cakes and ice cream. You’ve probably ordered a turmeric latte off the menu at your local wholefood café, but did you know you can easily make it at home?

Having friends over for dinner tonight? Whip up Lee Holmes’ Turmeric Tummy Bark recipe in less than 30 minutes; your guests will be impressed all night! Or, if you’re having a lazy weekend, why not make Lee’s Turmeric Scrambled Eggs? Not only will you kick-start your day in a healthy way, you’ll learn how easy it is to add turmeric to everyday meals.

Australian-based wholefood chef, Lee Holmes, shares healthy and sustainable meals on her website, Supercharged Food. Lee’s Turmeric Tummy Bark is one of our favourite recipes here at The Source Bulk Foods and makes the perfect snack for morning or afternoon tea. Providing you with a good source of healthy fats and antioxidants, the bark is simple to make and tastes delicious. Plus, you can pick up most of the ingredients from one of our stores!

Blend all the ingredients together (apart from the almonds) in a food processor or blender.

Stir in almonds.

Spoon mixture into the tray and freeze for 15 minutes or until set.

Break into bite-sized pieces and enjoy straight from the freezer.

You can add turmeric to almost any dish and, for the next week or so, we encourage you to do so. Try it out with the family, sneak it in the kid’s meals, add it to your morning smoothie or cook any of the recipes above. But remember, a little goes a long way: start with a small measurement, perhaps ½ teaspoon or so, and go from there.